Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-02-18
THE REVEREND CLERGY,

employed in behalf of the most important
interests of their felIoW-men, 1 will begin
with
THE REVEREND CLERGY.
The first church edifce erected in Staun-
ton was built by the Episcopalians, and
the first preacher of whom have any re-
collection was the Rev. DR.. Stephens,
Rector of that church, and I recolIect him
only because of the fact that being a ma
tive of Ireland, as was also my father, he
was frequent visitor to my fathers
store. where [ often saw him and listened
to him talk He left Stanton when I
was very young, SO that never heard him
preach, but remember years afterwards
hearing my father more than once speak
of him in terms of highest praise.
DE-. Stephens was succeeded about the
year 1880 by the Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, q
good preacher and most excellent Chris
tiau gentleman. 1 went to school to him
at the Old Academy, and my recollection
Is that he was universally liked by his
scholars. Mr.. 3. married the eldest daugh-
ter Of the distinguished lawyer, Hon.
Daniel Sheffey.
Next after Mr.. Boyden, came the Rev,
VIM. G. Jackon, an eloquent and effective
preacher. He also married Stanton
lady. a daughter of Capt. John e. Sewers,
ono of Staunton's most prominent citi-
zens fifty years ago.
Mr.. Jackon was followed by the Rev. F.
d. Goodwin. and he, if I recollect rightly,
by the Rev. Mr.. McEroy. an Irishman,
who was generally regarded an eloquent
and earnest preacher. At the time left
Staunton-1844-Rev. T. T. Castleman
was the Rector of Trinity Church.
The first Presbyterian minister T recol-
lect was the Rev. Jos. Smith. Mr.. S. was
the father of the Rev. DR.. VIM. Browns
first wife, and Of Rev. Jas. T. Smith, who
was member of Stonewall Jackson's
staff, and is now, [ think, in charge of a
Presbyterian church in fredericksburg.
Mr.. Smith was also for short time Prin-
clpal of the Academy, and my short recol-
lection of him is that he was a handsome
man and IN the pulpit pleasant speaker,
but in school rigid disciplinarian and
strong believer in the wisdom of Solomon's
remark about sparing the rod.
ReY. John Steele succeeded Mr.. Smith
He was tall, raw boned man, with
somewhat fierce eye, and face generally
indicative of strong determination. MY
recollection of him as preacher is very in
distinct.
Mr.. Steele was succeeded by the Rev,
Paul E. Stevenson, of New York, most
excellent Christian gentleman, but in nv
youthful judgement, dull and wearisome
preacher.
The mode of appointment of it's minis
tiers by the Methodist church, made FREE
quent changes among them and rendered
their terms of pastor ship usually very
short. 1 well recoleet however. the
names of number of the Methodist
preachers of Stanton during the time of
which [ write, conspicuous among whom
were-Rev. Geo. Hildt, Lipscomb, A.
Il. Chenowith, Norval Wilson, the father
of Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson, John G.
Lyon, b. N. Brown, - Henning, Levi
Monroe and DR.. Bunting Many of these
men were eloquent and earnest preachers
and in their day aBd generation did good
service in the Master cause.
There was neither q Baptist nor Luth-
eran church in Staunton at the time of
which Iwrite, and the few Catholics there
under the charge of Rev. DR.. Downey,
worshipped in stable fitted IN foE their
accommodation BIZ $50 2uinlan, IN the
same lot or lieh their handsome chu-eh
nnr~ stanlr Dr. Downey located il.
SGauntoE, somewhere about 1912 or '43. l
afterwards became well acquainted with
DR., D. and liked him very much. He was
an intelligent man, good talker, joyial
and companionable, and. thought, exer-
ted good influence On his little flock.
PHYSICIANS.
When I was quite young, DR.. VIM. Boys
and DR.. Coalter were among the leading
physicians of Staunton. DR.. Boys was
the first physician of che Western Luna
@io oulpn Ha WAS nnita old whom on